As part of our Christmas celebration, we’re officially taking a blogging break. Our plan is to cozy up with our boys and savor every moment with our two Christmas-loving three year olds. We hope that the magic of this season is real for you. And we hope that the spirit of it can transcend across all boundaries. We dream of peace on earth. And we dream of a world where each individual’s personal potential is unconstrained.
Holiday wishes everyone!
We’ll be back to the blogosphere in a week or so!
I snapped this photo at 7:30 this morning. Kyle was dressed for school, Owen was still in his pjs. I took it because I get a kick out of how they want to wear these Santa hats all the time. But after I took it, when I was downloading it to the computer, I noticed how close the boys are sitting to each other. They always are. And always have been. They are always right next to each other, usually with their bodies touching. I find it peculiar and special all at the same time. Even though I have twins, I’m still fascinated by them. Can you imagine wanting to be that close to someone, all the time? It must be really something being a twin. Also, for some reason, when I look at this photo I can just imagine Kyle being a 16 year old young man some day. Scary, but amazing, all at the same time.
Saturday we hosted a Christmas Party for all of our Haiti-adoptive-families-friends from the state of Pennsylvania (or nearby Pennsylvania!). This was a mid-year-reunion of the families from the summer PA Haitian Adoptive Families Reunion (click here, here, and here), and people made the trip from all over to be here. I cannot articulate what this group of people means to our family. Because we knew they’d be incredibly excited about it, we held off on even telling Kyle and Owen about the party plans until just a few days before. Still, K & O were “counting the sleeps” and asking 100 times a day “when is the Haiti Party going to come?!” In all seriousness, their anticipation for this Christmas Party was almost equal to their anticipation for Christmas itself. And their wildly high expectations were beyond met. It was easily one of the best days of their lives. Easily. Throwing this party was probably the very best Christmas present we could give to Kyle and Owen. There is just nothing — nothing — like getting together with other families like ours. For five hours the house was overflowing with laughter and chaos (51 people — 30 of which were kids under the age of 12… and when these kids get together they play hard!!!). Highlights included Corey’s fried plantains and rice & beans; pass-the-present; Owen’s long-awaited reunion with “Tavika”; camaraderie; contentment; solace; and a special kind of friendship. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group of adults bond so quickly as this group does. And I know I’ve never seen a group of kids play so hard as this group does. This group feels like kindred spirits. Kindred spirits with hearts for Haiti. It is rejuvenating to be in the midst. The four of us are now counting the sleeps until the summer reunion. To all who were here: Merry Christmas, and thank you so much for making the trip! More photos in the two posts below (click here and here). And, as always, click on any photo to see it larger.Wrapping Christmas presents with two three year old boys — these two three year old boys — is… nothing short of a major test of one’s patience. I’ll leave it at this: two entire rolls of Scotch Tape were used on some very small gifts. And the ribbon. The ribbon is a whole other story.
“When I grow up, then I will be in a marching band, then I will go into a big building, and then I will get to be doing Final Exams too!!!” –Kyle, this evening
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